3D Gaming*

[Sigfried1977]

The biggest question is, when will DivX/Xvid support 3D? Ha ha ha

It already does. You just need a player software that can handle it.
I just received a field sequencial 720p Xvid version of Coraline in the mail. (not quite Blu Ray quality, as one of the two angles is reconstructed from the anaglyphic Blu-Ray, but it looks pretty damn good regardless)

 

[Crossbar]

Using 3DTV mode for casual TV watching is probably far away as Joker say. I seriously doubt that the phony 2D -> 3D conversion that some TVs will offer will be a hit that make people put on those glasses.

I expect initial 3D TV will be used in a similar way as most surround systems are used. They are turned on when you are dedicated to watching a movie or playing a game.

However, shutter based 3D may have a larger market than surround systems for a few reasons.

• Within a few years 240 Hz TVs will be commodity and 3D will be a standard feature on those TVs. The step to buy the glasses will be pretty small.
• A 3D TV involves less extra equipment than a separate surround system, the tiny glasses does not involve rearranging your living room or whereever you have your TV.
• I think the visual 3D experience have a larger wow factor than the surround experience.

 

[patsu]

Unlike surround sound, I suspect the use case will explode once they allow the average consumers to make their own 3D content (taking 3D family photos/home video, Internet pr0n, web pages with 3D images, etc.). Glasses or no glasses, I want to see my first girl friend (assuming the relationship didn't blow up), my son in 3D when he was obedient and cute.

 

[Crossbar]

Unlike surround sound, I suspect the use case will explode once they allow the average consumers to make their own 3D content (taking 3D family photos/home video, Internet pr0n, web pages with 3D images, etc.). Glasses or no glasses, I want to see my first girl friend (assuming the relationship didn't blow up), my son in 3D when he was obedient and cute.

Good point.

Here you have something to start with:
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/3d/camera/finepix_real3dw1/

Better get it quick if you really want to take 3D pictures while your son is obedient.

 

[patsu]

They say 6 years old is when kids start to "demonize". I have 1.5 more years to go.
[size=-2]I am hoping to get a 3D monitor first and soon ![/size]

 

[Crossbar]

They say 6 years old is when kids start to "demonize". I have 1.5 more years to go.

Don´t count on it, just saying.

But look at this way, by the time you get a 3D camcorder you´ll be able to record some 3D horror clips that could be used in commercials for condoms and you´ll make some good money from it.

 

[patsu]

In my short Daddy experiences, I think one of the two scenarios (for 3D camera purchase) is likely:

(A) patsu got too busy and forgot about son's present
* Walk into BestBuy last minute (coz that's one of daddy's favorite stores, not Toys R' Us).
* Found cheap enough 3D camera
* Buy camera so that whole family, especially Daddy, can enjoy. A toy would be forgotten in a few days anyway

(B) patsu bought 3D monitor, inevitably end up checking out 3D pr0n content
* patsu caught by wife red handed (or red eyed)
* patsu buy 3D camera next day to show wife new technologies can have positive impact on family and kid

 

[Crossbar]

You´ve convinced me, anyway you cut it, the success of 3D is inevitable.

 

[patsu]

Not to convince you in 3D. You make your own decision. I'll probably give it a test run. The rest of the folks will take a few years to ponder over. But there is good potential for consumer 3D due to multiple factors/drivers.

 

[makattack]

That is where gaming comes in. Many people don't do anything while they game. It'd be hard to pull me away from 3D Demon's Souls.

I can see the combined attraction (gaming, movie, TV) especially when the content folks perfect their 3D production skills and technologies. Then the pr0n people crash into the party. [size=-2]... and messy history is written.[/size]

EDIT: There's 3D webcam for video conferencing. Guess who will be there ?

I believe the camera vendors are working on 3D digital cameras too. They will all drive 3D adoption.

I don't see that happening much in gaming either. Of course, this is just my own personal situation, but when I game solo, I wear a headset to shield my neighbors/flatmates/etc from noise. On top of the corrective lenses I already wear, it'll feel like I'm strapping on equipment to go into combat or something. This will turn any fun endeavor into tedium. Imagine when the batteries wear out? I already have a AA/AAA charger for my 360 controller & headset batteries -- so I'm going to need more batteries for 3D glasses? No thanks.

When gaming in a social environment (Rock Band, etc) I have been in situations where there are anywhere from 2-30 people looking on while people are playing. Do you really think a host will buy X number of glasses for their guests? After a few drinks, I can imagine people wearing those glasses walking about, breaking all sorts of things -- or themselves.

 

[patsu]

I don't see that happening much in gaming either. Of course, this is just my own personal situation, but when I game solo, I wear a headset to shield my neighbors/flatmates/etc from noise. On top of the corrective lenses I already wear, it'll feel like I'm strapping on equipment to go into combat or something. This will turn any fun endeavor into tedium. Imagine when the batteries wear out? I already have a AA/AAA charger for my 360 controller & headset batteries -- so I'm going to need more batteries for 3D glasses? No thanks.

It's easy to dismiss the tech without any reference (e.g., No front USB, need to change battery, cannot see my girl friend beside me). I'd say wait for your favorite game to go 3D. Then we will see. There is no need to rush into it right ?

The price point and any technical imperfection (e.g., fatique ?) are probably bigger deterrent.

When gaming in a social environment (Rock Band, etc) I have been in situations where there are anywhere from 2-30 people looking on while people are playing. Do you really think a host will buy X number of glasses for their guests? After a few drinks, I can imagine people wearing those glasses walking about, breaking all sorts of things -- or themselves.

In a party setting, I think people will just try 3D first so everyone can take turns to experience it. Then switch to 2D. We did that for Coraline 3D Blu-ray. Not a show stopper.

Also, I am very sure my friends, relatives and their kids will be curious to see my home media in 3D.

EDIT: It looks like a lot of investments are going into 3D. We know National Geographic, ESPN, World Cup, Disney, Sony, cable, satellite and more are in the bag. If they want to, they may also promote Victoria Secrets and other fashion stuff... way before pr0n comes in.

 

[Scott_Arm]

The biggest barrier will be the fact that most people bought their tv within the last two or three years, and it will be hard to convince most people to buy a new one.

 

[patsu]

Some DLPs and a very small portion of HDTVs are already 3D ready today. Should the desire for 3D takes off, it'd be "everywhere". People can start with standalone 3D monitor (like me !), photoframe, laptop, 2nd TV, and eventually their new living room TVs when it dies. It will take years for the key pieces to settle down anyway.

They should manage the pace so that people don't get disillusioned by early 3D tech limitations (if any).

 

[Shifty Geezer]

3D may well make it one day, if people don't mind wearing the glasses. But regards 3D gaming, this gen doesn't seem worth it. There's another report about Sony making a big push for 3D gaming, but I can't really see the point. Even if LBP in 3D is superb, I can't afford to buy in this gen (unless something extraordinary happens!). If I were creating a game, I wouldn't be putting in 3D. I guess Sony are investing in it to sell expensive TVs, but I really am scratching my head. Are the extra man-hours to add it to their library going to be worth the number of TVs it helps shift?

 

[patsu]

I think the proponents may be looking at a permanent shift to 3D, including 3D without glasses in the future. That's why they will build 3D into existing product lines whether you want it or not (People can always fallback to 2D).

Sony is interested in this because like Blu-ray, they will benefit from almost the entire value chain (production to professional equipments to consumer electronics). They will be affected less by the low cost manufacturers in the mid, short term. As for the other parties (e.g., cinema owners, studios, eye treatment centers), well they get to refresh their business model, inventory and attract different/new customer base.

Don't know whether and how long it will go mainstream, but it looks like all the biggies are very interested (read: aggressive).

EDIT: I wonder if people have learnt from Blu-ray that they need to be somewhat positive and get involved early. Otherwise, only aggressive companies like Panasonic and Sony (and Broadcom and NetFlix) will benefit most from the movement in the long run. Now, you see Samsung and other manufacturers being more proactive in 3D too.

In gaming context, the first parties will probably "go first".

 

[Crossbar]

The biggest barrier will be the fact that most people bought their tv within the last two or three years, and it will be hard to convince most people to buy a new one.

They don´t need to convince most people. It will start in the high-end market segement and trickle down to the main stream market within a couple of years. It will be like 1080p screens, does everyone benefit from it? Probably not, but at some point it will likely be hard to buy a TV without getting 3D capability built-in.

The more content they provide the cost-insensitive high-end market from the get-go the faster the uptake will be.

 

[zed]

The biggest barrier will be the fact that most people bought their tv within the last two or three years, and it will be hard to convince most people to buy a new one.

Yes this is partly true, but I think todays consumers are a lot different than the consumers of 15-30 years ago when u would buy a tv or appliance + it would last for years, now its every couple of years. Due to
A/ ppl are richer
B/ consumer goods are a lot cheaper than they once were

though looking at the latest blu-ray sales data, its grown faster than most ppl thought, now its ~16% of sales just a year ago it was ~6% sales

Like Ive mentioned before 3d gaming will be 'the thing' of the next generation of gaming consoles (like motion detection was this time round) sony+MS's next consoles will be able to do 3d, hell even nintendos may as well

 

[Scott_Arm]

They don´t need to convince most people. It will start in the high-end market segement and trickle down to the main stream market within a couple of years. It will be like 1080p screens, does everyone benefit from it? Probably not, but at some point it will likely be hard to buy a TV without getting 3D capability built-in.

The more content they provide the cost-insensitive high-end market from the get-go the faster the uptake will be.

To be honest, I think the trickle down will take a while. I think it'll be longer than two years, and most likely double that. HDTV has been very slow. I don't think the mass market replaces their tv every couple of years.

 

[Scott_Arm]

...

though looking at the latest blu-ray sales data, its grown faster than most ppl thought, now its ~16% of sales just a year ago it was ~6% sales
...

Are total combined sales for DVD and Bluray up or down from the last year? Just curious. I really don't know.

 

[patsu]

Down in general, but mostly up in recent weeks, starting around Nov 2009. Blu-ray was able to compensate for the DVD slide in Nov or Dec (can't remember which one, or both ?).

Some of the stats can be found on the net, like this:
http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?p=581645

To be honest, I think the trickle down will take a while. I think it'll be longer than two years, and most likely double that. HDTV has been very slow. I don't think the mass market replaces their tv every couple of years.

If they include 3D regardless of whether you want it or not, the sales numbers may be skewed. But there is a recent survey that claims consumers like 3D cable and satellite programs (Found a summary: http://www.twice.com/article/441278-Consumers_Want_3D_From_Cable_Satellite.php). Don't know their methodology. Incidentally, DirectTV is scheduled to start 3D programming early this year (The new satellite will go live in March, the three 3D channels are supposed to start in June according to their Panasonic partnership). The cable guys have just completed their 3D compatibility studies. Time Warner cable is negotiating with ESPN 3D (also June) as we speak. The Discovery, IMAX and Sony channel is slotted for 2011.